WORKING -- Marthe White

-- Story by Amy R. Spurgeon; photo by Jeff Chong

SHE IS

Responsible for that look of love on your wife’s face when you present

her with that perfect bouquet of flowers on Valentine’s Day.

IT’S IN THE GENES

Marthe White of Costa Mesa said her love affair with flowers goes back to

her childhood. The bright-eyed, 46-year-old French Islander with a smile

to match once painted white flowers in her mother’s garden when she was

only 6 years old.

“It is something you are born with,” she said. “It’s in the genes. I was

lucky.”

NOT THE OFFICE TYPE

White left her high-paying job with the French government in 1984 to move

to California with her family. Married with three children, she decided

at the time that her next career move would involve more creativity.

She enrolled in floral design courses at Goldenwest College in Huntington

Beach and later obtained a position as a floral designer with Conroy’s in

Costa Mesa.

Her office today is scattered with colored vases, flowers, balloons and

stuffed animals. Instead of smelling the coffee brewing in the break

room, she whiffs the aroma of exotic flowers.

COMPLETELY CONTENT

White is clearly passionate about her work.

With her long black hair pulled back and dressed in jeans, a company

shirt and green apron, she critically reviews each bouquet she crafts.

She even goes as far as to wear her work. On some days, two small red

plastic flowers adorn her ear lobes.

Her specialty involves designing exotic arrangements with flowers that

come from the South Pacific.

“There is a mystical quality to it,” she said. “When you look at a

tropical design, it is like planting yourself on the island. And an

English Country Garden bouquet is like being in a magical place.”White

loves her job so much she said she doesn’t even consider it work.

“I shouldn’t be paid to have fun,” she said. “It just brings me so much

pleasure.”

THE BIG “V”

But come Valentine’s Day, White will want that paycheck. Starting Feb. 9,

she and other workers will be pulling 10- to 12-hour shifts to help meet

the demand.

“We go long hours into the night,” White said. She said this time of year

always causes her to question her career choice and wonder if she will

physically make it through the holiday.

Conroy’s owner Denny Full said his two Costa Mesa stores will do eight to

10 times the amount of normal business on Valentine’s weekend.

“We will make around 900 deliveries in the area,” he said. “It is a

fairly large undertaking.”

Full said he gears up for the chaotic weekend by bringing in 35 extra

employees.

“Banners [advertising] for drivers went up right after Christmas,” Full

said.

NEW HORIZONS

White, who has been a floral designer with the same Conroy’s location for

14 years, said she has no plans of switching careers.

“I am perfectly happy where I am,” White said. “I like the mentality of

the people. Sometimes you see people who are having a bad hair day, but

usually everyone is really friendly.

“It’s heaven. Life is already complicated. I just like things to be

simple.”